A BRITISH tourist has been arrested for allegedly taking photos of children - on a beach near where Madeleine McCann went missing.

Three sets of parents noticed the 48-year-old taking snaps of kids playing on Portugal's Algarve coast, police said yesterday.

Officers found "many" photos on his camera of children "aged between eight and 15".

Taking pictures of minors without their parents' permission is illegal in Portugal.

The suspect was arrested at about 3pm on Thursday after concerned mums and dads contacted the Maritime Police.

The man, who has not been named, was held on the Marinotel beach in Vilamoura.

The beach is about 50 miles east of Praia da Luz, where Maddie disappeared in May 2007. She was then aged three.

Police commander Marques Ferreira said: "A 48-year-old Englishman was seen photographing children. We verified the existence of many photographs."

He said the suspect had been alone when taking the photos.

The man was made an "arguido", or formal suspect, on Thursday. He was bailed by police and was due in court yesterday in the town of Loule.